“The Department of Justice has welcomed the opportunity to describe to the
Court the operation of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and to
explain the legality of this highly successful and unprecedented program. To
date, over 1,500 victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks and their
families have filed claims seeking compensation from the Fund. The Fund has
provided compensation averaging more than $1.5 million, tax free, per
claimant. The highest amounts have exceeded more than $6 million.

“Special Master Kenneth Feinberg, serving without pay since his appointment by
the Attorney General in November 2001, has administered the Fund with
compassion for the victims and respect for the law that Congress enacted in
establishing the Fund. He has spent an extraordinary amount of time meeting
with the families of the deceased and the injured victims, to listen to their
concerns, hear their claims, and address their needs.

“The Department anticipates that the great majority of victims of the
September 11 attacks will enter the Fund before the December 21, 2003 deadline
for submitting claims, and looks forward to a speedy resolution of this
dispute by the Courts.”